Lowestoft police sign up to Twitter

Police in Lowestoft have joined social networking site Twitter - and will be issuing regular updates about news, events, arrests, crime prevention advice and what’s happening in people’s neighbourhood at @LowestoftPolice.

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Lowestoft is the first local area to get its own district account in Suffolk following the successful launch of @AngliaSkyCops and the Constabulary’s main Twitter account which has over 4,300 followers.

Sgt Steve Wright, who will help oversee the Lowestoft account, said he hoped the short updates, known as ‘tweets’, would give those using the social networking site a better insight into police work and help build relationships alongside the day-to-day work carried out by officers and police community support officers.

He said: “We’re excited to be the first local Twitter account in Suffolk and I hope this will give residents an extra opportunity to find out about policing in their area and to engage with us.

The work we do is varied and Twitter will allow us to provide regular local policing updates on a variety of issues that you might not usually get to hear about.

“There is a lot of good work going on and we want as many people as possible to have access to information about what is happening in and around Lowestoft.”

Police in the town will continue to use traditional methods of engagement such as community surgeries, the media and the existing Suffolk Police Direct service to keep members of the public informed on policing matters.

Sgt Wright said: “We understand that not everyone living in the communities we serve will be familiar with social media or have access to the internet, but this gives us another way of keeping in touch with residents.

“It’s important to remember that Twitter is not the place to report a crime or raise issues you want to discuss in confidence.

“For non-emergency matters or to speak with an officer from your local Safer Neighbourhood Team please use the 101 number. In emergencies always dial 999.”

Follow the EDP on Twitter at @EDP24 and the Lowestoft Journal at @lowjournal